Call To Action – World Sepsis Day is September 13

The Global Sepsis Alliance is seeking a mandate from the World Health Assembly (WHA) for World Sepsis Day (WSD). There are currently eight world health days, and World Sepsis Day will be the 9th. Sepsis strikes an estimated 30 million people worldwide every year, many of whom needlessly die or suffer permanent health issues.

Medical resources are strained by the burden of caring for patients suffering from sepsis. Education and resources are seriously needed to prevent, diagnose and treat sepsis early. Mandating World Sepsis Day will focus world attention on this most serious medical condition.

Sepsis’ economic impact on any country is colossal. In the United States alone, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that sepsis cost the American health system more than $20 billion in 2011 and its rate is increasing annually by 11.9%. Early identification and treatment of sepsis would have resulted in 92,000 fewer deaths and saved over $1.5 billion. In the developing world sepsis accounts for 60 to 80% of lost lives per year and affects more than 6 million infants and children. Shockingly over 25,000 pregnant women go into septic shock every year and sepsis is a leading cause of maternal death.

Sepsis essentials:The world’s most neglected medical emergency

Number one cause of death from infection. Affects all ages, all nations.

More common than a heart attack, kills more people than any cancer.

Affects more than 30 million people a year worldwide, many of whom die or suffer permanent disabilities. Its incidence is increasing.

Costs many countries more than any illness and is the leading cause of years of lives lost.

Is caused by any infection and if recognized and treated too late produces the catastrophic failure of multiple organ systems which frequently results in death or permanent disability.

What’s needed?

Better education of health care workers and lay people on prevention and the early symptoms of sepsis.

Access to simple, low-cost and effective diagnostic and treatment interventions that are the pillars of any basic health care system. E.g. antibiotics, fluids, oxygen and other basic supportive care.

This will save lives, reduce disabilities and result in large savings for health care budgets.

Organizations and individuals around the world should ask their governments to support the following:

The World Health Organization (WHO) through the World Health Assembly should designate a World Sepsis Day to focus global attention and action that will strengthen health care systems worldwide to address this, the world’s most neglected medical emergency.

When the World Health Assembly (WHA) mandates a day for sepsis, world medical authorities, governments, hospitals and health care workers will pay much more attention to sepsis and more resources will be committed to education, early diagnosis and treatments. Many lives will be saved and many survivors will recover with fewer permanent problems.

The Global Sepsis Alliance, with the help of its many supporters including international organizations and government leaders, is intent on moving this forward to the WHA immediately for consideration and approval in 2016.

For further information on this program and if you want to assist us with the WSD Mandate contact us:World Sepsis Day Head OfficeGlobal Sepsis Alliancec/o Center for Sepsis Control & CareUniversity Hospital JenaErlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena (Germany)E: office@world-sepsis-day.org